Abstract
This paper offers some reflections on the libraries of the future from strategic documents produced by the Italian Library Association and International Federation of Library Association. The professional associations are looking carefully at the ongoing changes and the technological and social scenario that is undergoing rapid and complex transformations, not only to understand the state of health of the library profession, but above all to intercept the evolution of today's society and thus to be able to formulate a vision of a library that is not only adequate, but proactive with respect to the needs of the communities and to the objectives of policies supporting education, lifelong learning and the growth of social welfare. To the question ‘Is there still a need for libraries?’ the paper will propose an answer that values the library for active citizenship, as an agency of cultural and social well-being in relation to communities, as a cultural, information and knowledge infrastructure for all, as fundamental service for acting on inequalities to improve people's quality of life, thanks to its identity and mission, regardless of type, ownership and undeniable differences.